Neoplasia Flashcards
Define the term “Neoplasia” in your own words and in respect to malignant versus benign growth:
an uncontrolled, excessive, disorderly cellular growth in a living human organism. The growth can be either benign or malignant.
Define the term “Anaplasia” in your own words and in respect to malignant versus benign growth: (looks more like a stem cell) - can be toxic & aggressive
A malignant neoplasia tumor composed of undifferentiated/ immature cells that have the ability to metastasize & grow outside of the living organism and have abnormal cellular markers on their membranes.
A Hamartoma is:
a benign excessive tumor-like growth of mature cells that grows at the same rate as the surrounding tissues.
Mature gastric (“G”) cells, producing hormone gastrin, are found in the appendix or/ and in the pancreas. Such a finding is called as the following:
Choristoma – a collection of normal mature cells/tissues in an abnormal location.
A benign tumor of glandular epithelium is called as the following:
Adenoma, Polyp or Papilloma
A malignant tumor of mesenchymal (mesodermal) tissue origin (muscle, adipose, cartilage, bone) is called as the following:
Sarcomas are tumors of connective tissues and muscles & more specifically Liposarcma & Myosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Fibrosarcoma.
Describe the most common cancers as per their cause of death:
Modern day Chemical & Physical carcinogens leading to cancer development of highly malignant/anaplastic tumors like tar, asbestos, Benzenes, Aniline Dyes & Dry cleaning chemicals, Heavy metals, drugs like DES or anti-cancer drugs & UV radiation, xrays & nuclear exposures. Leading causes of death according to CDC are: Colorectal & Lung for both Men & Women. For men: Prostate, and for Women: Breast
A change in a single nucleotide within a cell DNA, leading to cancerous (malignant) transformation, is called as the following:
high grade, less mature or less differentiated tumor cells aka analplastic. They have more abnormal behaviors and are prone to spreading.
Compare cellular and tumor characteristics and a potential of spreading for benign versus malignant neoplasia:
malignant are high grade/anaplastic cancer is more aggressive and prone to spreading. Benign have some symmetry/regularity to their shapes and grow slowly & become encapsulated.
Explain the goal and the method of the diagnostic procedure, called “Grading”:
The goal is to determine the type of abnormal cells and whether benign or malignant by analyzing behavior and growth pattern. There are three procedures that can be done to determine grading 1.) via needle aspiration/biopsy or surgical excision/biopsy, 2.) Tumor cells can also be brushed out by long brushes inserted via an endoscopic tube or 3.) microscopic & immune analysis of tumor markers of cells via biopsy known as cytological examination or immune-histo-chemistry examination.
Explain the goal and the method of the diagnostic procedure, called “Staging”. What aspects or occurrences are taken in consideration for “staging” of malignant tumors?
Staging is mostly used in clinical prognosis of neoplasia. It’s a radiologic investigation procedure to determine the
degree of the tumor spreading/metastasis and is based on a Tumor-Node or affected lymph node.
What is cachexia? Does it account for local or systemic sign of a cancer?
It accounts for a systemic manifestation and is due to TNF cytokines production by cancerous cells.
Describe paraneoplastic syndrome and the most common cancer, implicated in causing this syndrome in affected patients:
Paraneoplastic syndrome has a pattern of invading surrounding tissues and is based on secretion of ectopic endocrine hormones. The most common cause of this syndrome is Oat Cell Lung Carcinoma.
Describe known carcinogens and associated with them malignancies:
Hepatitis B/C leading to hepato-cellular carcinoma/LV cancer; Herpes viruses leading to various cancers; Epstein Barr/Infectious Mononucleosis virus leading to Non-Hodgkins lymphoma & naso-pharyngeal cancer; Herpes simplex type 8 leading to Kaposi Sarcoma; HIV virus leading to Lymphomas & HPV leading to cervical & penile cancers. Modern day Chemical & Physical carcinogens leading to cancer devlpmt of highly malignant/ anaplastic tumors like tar, asbestos, Benzenes, Aniline Dyes & Dry cleaning chemicals, Hvy metals,drugs like DES or anti-cancer drugs & UV radiation, xrays & nuclear exposures.
Mutated forms of genes that cause normal cells to develop & grow abnormally & become cancerous.
Oncogenes - Crick & Watson circa 1962
